Description

I am jim , from the US. wanting independence for people with visual impairments through the use of technology as a tool to expand their horizons. After years of travelling I ended, quite coincidently, in Loja, Ecuador as a volunteer mobility trainer for children,and adolescents I am working with schools and institutes to pass on my knowledge and experience to use technology, boost confidence and navigate without site. I can’t describe the feeling that you will get being a part of a childs life discovering this beautiful city’s parks, zoo, swimming pools, horseback rides and the many cultural activities often for the first time. I am now looking for mid to long term volunteers that desire to be part of this initiative called En Loja Libre and partake in a considerable impact for people with incredible sensitivity and kindness. Check out some pictures and find more info on the exchange below.

Type of help

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

This exchange will give incredible experience on both extremely rewarding time spent with kind and gentle people, and awareness on the challenges visually independence brings. On top of that you will learn to work with technology and mobility from a unique perspective. I can guarantee an expansive experience beyond vision.

The city of Loja is referred to as the cultural capital of Ecuador.
There are cultural concerts, a language exchange in town on Thursday nights, on the weekends they have a (usually) internationnal concert from their 40 piece orchestra. There is also ballet, museums great coffee shops and restaurants. Lojanos are energetic kind people with a heart for their city.
For a weekend off, I would suggest the diverse national park called Podocarpus or a visit to the nearby peculiar valley of Vilcabamba, where people are known to live well over 100 years and occasionally UFO’s are spotted. I can’t guarantee any of this but there is great hiking in beautiful nature the

Help

I am looking for a volunteer who is fluent in Spanish and English, can help with mobility and technology training for blind children and adults and knows or is willing to learn extensively and teach Apple’s accessibility features. The children I work with are between the age of 4 and 16. They are all visually impaired or blind. There are three main activities: 1) 3 times a week we go out in the city for activities with the children. 2) in the afternoon we welcome students of all ages in our training center to teach and pratice the mobility technology and accessibility tools. 3) we update and maintain online media to share our experiences to those interested. Feel free to send me an email for further questions.

Languages spoken

English

Accommodation

We will work and live together in a shared three bedroom apartment with a work area to welcome our guest students. It will be our shared responsibility to keep things clean, shop and cook communicating as a team. You will receive your own room and meal

What else ...

Transportation is super reliable and abundant in the city and between neighboring cities and villages (Vilcabamba, Zamora, Cuenca ... )

The kids are lovely, the work is really inspiring and so much fun. We took the kids to walk in the zoo, walked around the city and learned how to navigate on Google Maps. It's so rewarding to see how far this kids have come and just how much further they could get with just a little support and care!

And that's where Jim… read more comes in, he's such a cool guy! You'll never find an end to his crazy life stories, he's a real storyteller. Always in a good mood, constantly helping people out and also cooking delicious food, that's just Jim in his daily life.

I miss you all very much! Thank you for everything and I hope to see you back in Loja someday

Flo and Eric came to me through another volunteer website! I’ve had them volunteering with me twice a week for the last eight months they are extremely responsible interacted e well with the children! Eric‘s skills as a handyman are second to none, and flow is one of the best cooks I have ever encountered! I would recommend them for any task… read more involving children I would trust him with my life!

Santiago was very good interacting with the children ! His computer skills are second To none he was able to get a Bbraille printer for the school online which was no easy task since none of us had ever seen one of these before his cooking skills or very good I can’t say enough good things about this man

I was invited by Jim for 2 weeks. I organized and directed a short bakery and pastry course for children and school teachers. Very intense experience, unique to me and very rewarding from an emotional, cultural and professional point of view. Children are very affectionate, sensitive but strong in the face of the adversities that life can reserve… read more and this has been a great lesson for me! Jim is an extraordinary man who is also very strong and very sensitive! Thanks to him and his project, these children can finally feel like the undisputed protagonists in the world! At home, Jim is absolutely available, a great and fun conversationalist, profound and, at the same time, always in a good mood and able to find the positive side of things and quick solutions to problems that arise from time to time. Jim is also a great chef, he knows the beautiful city of Loja very well and has many friends to introduce to you. Thanks Jim, "Hands of God."

he was absolutely spectacular! He taught a baking class to 19 Blind children and taught them to make bread and pizza! they had the time of their life it was a joy to have him around the children!

(Excellent
)

12/04/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Mònica & Sheila)

They were very good with the children, the children just loved interacting with them

(Very good
)

28/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Facundo)

Facundo was a great worker he interacted very well with the children and was an absolute pleasure to have around the house!
I would recommend Him for any project that you have. He’s a self motivator and if he sees something that needs done he does it without being asked

(Excellent
)

09/02/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Gerard)

Jarrard was an excellent worker!He Interacted with
Thechildren extremely well I found him extremely helpful. I hope he enjoyed being here as much as I enjoyed having
him he Is always welcome if he ever wants to come back

(Excellent
)

09/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Gerard) for host

I was one month working with the school. The children, teachers, Jim and all the people that helps the school are amazing. The work is very grateful, every week we helped the children to be more independent and self-sufficient. In the school the students learn how to use iPhones and with us the students used Google maps to find and go to places by… read more themselves. Was amazing to see how the students improved a lot this weeks.
Also I was helping with the Braille machines. When I arrive only 1 machine was working, but after some days working we could repair 10 machines more.
Also I am very happy to share this time with Jim and his friends. Loja is amazing, with a lot of things to do and see. Music, food, trekkings... I really enjoyed my days there. Thanks Jim!!!

You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.

(Excellent
)

01/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (Julia) for host

I was very excited to be a part of this work experience. Unfortunately, the host canceled days before my arrival. I have no doubt this would have been a wonderful work experience. Hopefully, this will not happen again with other prospective volunteers.

Alexander is fantastic with children! Very honest hard-working and a joy to have around the house.
He shows great initiative, willingness to learn
Related extremely well with the children and they related very well With him